Short stories or Real life experience that jog your mind to keep your spirits healthy.

Monday, January 6, 2014

The Present

Once a king
called upon all of his wise men and asked them, " Is there a mantra or
suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstances, in every
place and in every time. In every joy, every sorrow, every defeat and every
victory? One answer for all questions? Something which can help me when none of you is available to advise me? Tell me
is there any mantra?"

All the wise men were puzzled by the King's question. They thought and thought.
After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appealed to
all of them. They went to the king and gave him something written on paper,
with a condition that the king was not to see it out of curiosity. Only in
extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no way,
only then he can see it.

The King put the papers under his Diamond ring.

Some time later, the neighbors attacked the Kingdom. The King and his army fought
bravely but lost the battle. The King had to flee on his horse. The enemies were
following him, getting closer and closer. Suddenly the King found himself
standing at the end of the road - that road was not going anywhere.

Underneath there was a rocky valley, thousand feet deep. If he jumped into it,
he would be finished...and he could not return because it was a small
road...the sound of enemy's horses was approaching fast. The King became restless. There seemed to be no way.

Then suddenly he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he
remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read the
message.

Only a few
days ago, I was enjoying my kingdom. I was the mightiest of all the Kings. Yet
today, the Kingdom and all his pleasure have gone. I am here trying to escape
from enemies. Like those days of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too
will pass. As he kept standing there he realized his mind getting calmer.

The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known
that such a beautiful place was also a part of his Kingdom. The revelation of
the message had a great effect on him. He relaxed and forgot about those
following him. After a few minutes he realized that the noise of the horses and
the enemy coming was receding. They moved into some other part of the mountains.

The King was very brave. He reorganized his army and fought again. He defeated
the enemy and regained his empire. When he returned to his empire after
victory, he was received with much fanfare. The whole capital was rejoicing in
the victory. Everyone was in a festive mood.

Flowers were being showered on King from every house, from every corner. People
were dancing and singing. For a moment King said to himself," I am one of
the bravest and greatest King. It is not easy to defeat me. With all the
reception and celebration he saw an ego emerging in him.

Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of
the message. - "THIS TOO SHALL PASS".

He realized - If this too is going to pass, it is not yours.
Then the defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours. You are just a watcher.
Everything passes by. We are witnesses of all this. Our life is what we perceive. Happiness comes and goes. Sorrow comes and goes. Life
comes and goes.

Now as you have read this story, just sit silently and evaluate your own life.
This too shall pass. Think of the moments of joy and victory in your life.
Think of the moment of Sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent? They all come and
pass away. Life just passes away. There is nothing permanent in this world.
Every thing changes except the law of change. Think over it from your own
perspective. You have seen all the changes. You have survived all setbacks, all
defeats and all sorrows. All have passed away. The problems in the present,
they too will pass away. Because nothing remains forever. Joy and sorrow are
the two faces of the same coin. They both will pass away.